Gymnastics

Saturday was another great family day.  We started the morning with a visit to an open play gym at a local gymnastics training center.  It was a bit of a risk since I didn't know what to expect (hadn't talked to anyone who'd been) and wasn't sure if Rooke would enjoy it (Gretchen would have fun if we were all there together).  Rough and tumble play hasn't traditionally been his cup of tea.  But he completely shocked Ryan and I over and over again for the entire hour we were there.  It was arguably the best seven pounds we've spent since being in England - both for the jumping/running/playing and for the family experience together.  I feel like I am watching Rooke grow and mature in leaps and bounds every day. 

This was one of his first jumps of the morning - and he didn't stop for the next hour.  

"I want to do it, too!"

"Um, it's a bit high.  Will you hold my hand, Daddy?"

Don't worry - Ryan and I got in on the action, too!  I liked the little spring trampoline.

Then we moved on to the foam pit.  How cool is that?!

She had mixed emotions about the foam

Our family shot for the morning:

A bit of this and that

Rooke discovered the dryer this week.  And by discovered, I mean the inside.  They were both determined to get Gretchen inside too.

She helped me polish off a pan of roasted broccoli while making broccoli hummus.  She loved it!

Rooke wanted Daddy to play the "sleeping game".  He's very particular and prescriptive in his play these days.  He put Daddy to bed and gave him all the necessary things for sound sleep.  It's really a win/win because Ryan likes playing the sleeping game after coming home from work!

We need to get a helmet for her.  She loves wearing her brother's.  And with all the bumps and bruises she gets, it's really not a bad idea to let her run around wearing one!

She Talks

This isn't the greatest quality video, but it's the best of our efforts at capturing our little talker.  They say that younger siblings don't talk as early because their older siblings do that for them.  They should know.   They wrote the internet.  But they don't know my daughter.  She has a lot on her mind and is learning new words every day to express herself, including "no", "mine", "I do", and "peese".

Public Footpath Picnic

The kids and I had seen the trail head for this path a few weeks ago, but didn't have time to go exploring.  Yesterday, we left the house early with a picnic in tow and enjoyed our sunny morning together on the public footpath.

As I've mentioned before, it's common to encounter animals on public footpath walks.  I enjoy animals like anyone else at the zoo, but I'll admit to being a bit nervous about that one particular cow standing on our path.  Thank goodness for Phil&Ted's off-roading abilities.

He ran, and ran, and ran.

Once I let her out of the stroller, she ran, and ran, and ran.  She's getting ready for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Rooke is not generally excited to try new things.  Sometimes he gets in a funk and gets it in his mind that he will not enjoy the new thing and will not have fun with the new thing and will get hurt, or whatever, on the new thing.  I've been told that one of his parents used to be like that. =) Our new thing on this particular day was a zip-line.  I could see the funk coming on, and felt like this was one of those times when I just needed to really push him to try it.  So with a bit of bribing (food almost always works!),  he gave it a go.  And LOVED it!  I can't tell you how proud I am of him not only gaining the courage to try out the zip-line, but admitting that he enjoyed it and doing it over, and over, and over again . . .  he was a  zip-lining maniac!

My kids are obsessed with pickles.  At their rate, I need to learn how to can my own.   

Random

I love playing games and I especially love playing Candyland with Rooke.  Even more so when Gretchen is contained!  He does pretty good with the rules, but doesn't like going backwards if he gets a "special card" that we've already passed.  I told him when he turns four he has to start going backwards, but for now I just love getting to play with him, using whatever rules he feels like following on that particular day! =)

After seeing a picture of Gretchen, a friend recently asked if she was "full of life".  YES!  She is full of life and joy and so much fun to have around!  On this particular day, the kids and I were ready to head out to an outdoor animal shelter.  But when we opened the door it was raining hard enough to keep us home.  Gretchen, however, thought the rain was great and decided she'd play in it for a while.  What are wellies and a rain jacket for anyway?!

You know the part in the credits after shows where they list who provides the wardrobe?  We would like to thank the following for supplying Rooke's wardrobe since birth:

Grammy Deb

KayeK

Elijah (and personal assistant, Sarah/Mom)

This t-shirt was part of a recent package Rooke received from our Seattle neighbor and big buddy, Elijah.  The fire truck shirt was immediately plucked out and worn for the rest of the day.  Thanks for keeping us in the hand-me-down loop, Hurts!

Gretchen wanted in on the action

Oh, the captions we could write to go with this picture . . .

Breakfast

A Front Yard

I really did enjoy the super-urban-Seattle-apartment we lived in.  But I will admit that hearing my son ask if he can go play in our front yard is a dream come true.  It's not much to look at, but I've never loved a patch of mossy grass or a struggling flower bed more.

Making good use of our last empty boxes

She asked to wear her boots and I'm still confused at how anyone could be sad while wearing such cute wellies (thanks, Evelynn!)